Bottle holder



June 6, 1961 o. BJERING ETAL BOTTLE HOLDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed m 28, 1957 INVENTORS OLAY BJERING BY ALOIS ETR ENDEL M r7? ATTORN s June 6, 1961 o; BJERING ErAL BOTTLE HOLDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 28, 1957 G EL 01. m M ATT s max mdI R v fl o N mw am Patented June ,6, 1961 hice 2,987,313 BOTTLE HOLDER Olav Bjering, Toledo, and Alois F. Trendel, Huron, Ohio,

assignors to Owens-Illinois Glass Company, a corporation of Ohio Filed May 28, 1957, Ser. No. 662,169 4 Claims. (Cl. 269-153) The present invention is a bottle holder especially adapted for use in conjunction with apparatus for aflixing screw closure caps or the like covers to bottles such, for example, as those generally used in packing catsup; that is, bottles in which the shoulder portion is quite long and gradually tapered.

An object of our invention is the provision of an annular series of holders individual to screw cap afiixing heads, each such holder being adapted to readily and releasably grip the tapered bottle shoulder and a portion of the body in such fashion as to firmly secure the bottle against bodily movement during the capping operation.

Another object of our invention is the provision of a holder of the above character wherein a yoke member is movable vertically relative to a bottle supporting platform between two extreme positions axially of the bottle so that in one such position it firmly engages the shoulder and thereby secures the bottle against both lateral and rotary movement while in its other position it releases and allows ready removal of the bottle by a lateral. sliding movement over the platform.

Other objects will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view with parts in section showing our invention incorporated in a closure cap applying machine.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view showing in some detail the structure of the bottle holder comprising the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

In the illustrated embodiment of our invention, it is shown incorporated in a bottle closing apparatus designed particularly to affix screw-type or lug-type closure caps to relatively tall slender bottles B such as the well-known and widely used catsup bottle which includes a relatively long tapered shoulder 10 connecting the body 11 and an externally screw threaded neck 12, the latter intended to have secured thereto a closure cap 13.

Although other specific forms of capping machines may be utilized, we have for the purpose of illustration shown apparatus including capping chucks 14 mounted upon a rotary carrier 15 which in turn is secured to a cylinder 16. This cylinder is telescoped over a stationary central column 17 and at its lower end has driving connection to a motor 18 through a speed reducer unit 19 and a train of gears 20, one of which gears is suitably attached to the lower end of the cylinder 16. Through this mechanism, which is of conventional form, the cylinder 16 is rotated continuously and correspondingly moves the carrier 15 and cap chucks 14 carried by the latter. Each of these chucks is provided with a vertical spindle carrier 21 which extends upwardly into a tubular guide 22 and is provided with a cam roll 23 running in a stationary annular box cam 24. A bracket 25 secured to an upper portion of the spindle carrier 21 supports an air motor 26. Meshing pinions 27 at the upper end of the spindle carrier and motor provide driving connection between these two elements so that the chuck 14 may be rotated and thereby thread the closure cap 13 onto the neck of the bottle. Air under pressure for operating the motor 26 is delivered to the latter through a flexible pipe 28 leading to a distributorunit 29. Another flexible pipe 30 connecting the distributor 29 and the upper end of the spindle carrier 21 functions to convey air under pressure for the purpose of actuating the cap chuck 14. The details of this specific structure are not disclosed and do not constitute any important indispensable part of the invention. A steam distributor 31 is available for use in the introduction of live steam into the head space of the bottles and interior of the closure caps substantially at the time of sealing the bottles, such being accomplished in a fashion and for a purpose well known in the art.

The handling of bottles of the style referred to above so that they remain properly positioned during the application of screw or lug type closure caps thereto has presented a rather serious problem, especially where highspeed filling, capping and therefore very rapid delivery to and removal from capping machines become imperative. Not only must each bottle be moved quickly into its proper position in the closing machine, but it must be held securely against bodily displacement during the threading of a screw cap thereon and the mechanism must also be such as to be capable of quickly releasing the bottle so that a star wheel or other transfer device can move it laterally onto a horizontal conveyor 32 or the like which functions to carry the sealed-bottles to a packing or casing station (not shown).

The apparatus constructed in accordance with our invention comprises an annular horizontal platform 33, the hub 34 of which is secured by screws or such fastening means 35 to a radial flange 36 on the aforementioned cylinder 16. This platform 33 overlies and substantially closes the open upper end of a drum 37 which is in the form of a short vertical cylinder rising from, the upper side of the housing 38 for the aforementioned motor and gear train. Secured to the upper side of the platform 33 by means of screws 39 or similar fasteners is a horizontal ring 40, which, as will be apparent presently, functions to support an element of each holder in position for engagement with a lower part of the bottles B. The holders 41 are arranged in an annular series about the column 17 and carried by the platform 33 and ring 40.

These holders are arranged and so formed that on one side of the capping apparatus a star wheel (not shown) may function to present a bottle in normal upright position to a holder each time it arrives at the transfer station (not shown) While at another point in the path of rotation of these holders a take-out star wheel 42 (FIG. 3) operates to remove the capped bottles in succession and transfer them to the conveyor 32 or some other handling means. An element common to all of the holders is the annular plate or collar 43 which is secured to the upper side of the ring 40 by any suitable means (not shown), such plate projecting radially outward beyond the periphery of said ring and provided at uniformly spaced points about its periphery with radially outwardly opening recesses 44 which correspond in number to that of the holders 41 and are adapted to accommodate a lower portion or body 11 of the bottles. These recesses 44 or re-entrant portions are of a contour best suited to the cross-sectional shape of the bottles being handled.

In addition to the body receiving recesses 44, each of the holders comprises a horizontally disposed yoke 45, the fingers 46 (FIG. 3) of which are intended to straddle the tapered shoulder 10 of a bottle, such yoke being positioned above the corresponding recesses 44 and movable vertically between two extreme positions. In the lowermost position, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in full lines, the yoke firmly gn'ps a surface which circumferentially of the shoulder is somewhat in excess of this arising from the fact that the fingers are curved as shown in FIG. 3 and along a line at least generally concentric with the shoulder of the yoke is tapered so as to provide a maximum area of contact between the bottle and yoke. Thus, suflicient friction is provided to insure against rotation of the bottle about its own axis during threading of a closure cap 13 thereon. When the yoke 45 is moved to its uppermost position as indicated in dotted lines in FIG. 2, it then is at a level at which the diameter of the bottle shoulder is sufficiently small to permit free lateral movement of the bottle away from the holder under the influence of the take-out star wheel 42.

Movement of the yoke 45 between the two described positions is possible through resort to mechanism substantially as will now be described. A tubular guide 48 (FIG. 2) is mounted vertically in aligned openings 49 and 50 in the platform 33 and ring 40, respectively, and a vertical opening 51 in the recessed plate 43. An intermediate portion 52 of this guide is enlarged in diameter and fits into the first two named openings 49 and 50 wherein it is secured by means of a lock screw 53. This enlargement 52 provides an annular shoulder 54 facing downwardly, the function of which will be described presently. A push rod 55 is slidingly mounted in the guide 48 and at its upper end projects into and carries a concentric sleeve 56, the lower portion of which is telescoped over the upper end section of the tubular guide 48. The yoke 45 is fitted over and secured by the screw 57 to a diametrically reduced upper end 58 of the sleeve 56. A key 59 and keyway 60 (FIG. 2) cooperate to hold the sleeve 56 and tubular guide 48 against relative rotation and a cross-pin 55a secures the rod and sleeve 56 against relative rotation. A cushion ring 61 encircling the guide 48 between the sleeve 56 and peripherally recessed plate 43 absorbs any shock that might otherwise result from excessive downward movement of the yoke carrying sleeve.

Axial movement of the push rod '55 in a downward direction to bring the yoke into holding engagement with a bottle is obtained by means of a coil expansion spring 62 which encircles the lower end portion of the tubular guide 48 and a tubular upward extension 63 on a carrier 64 for a cam roll 65. This expansion spring is confined between the aforementioned shoulder 54 on the tubular guide and a similar oppositely facing shoulder 66 formed on the cam carrier 64. It is apparent therefore that since the cam roll 65 is secured to the lower end of the push rod, as by means of a pin 67, the coil spring normally urges the push rod and the yoke downwardly so that the latter may yieldingly and firmly engage the tapered shoulder of the bottle and hold it against both tipping and rotation during the time the closure cap is being applied thereto. 7

Upward movement of the yoke to release a bottle is effected by means of a stationary cam 68 (FIG. 1) which is shaped to operate through the cam roll 65 and its carrier to move the push rod upwardly in opposition to the pressure of the spring 62 with the result that the yoke assumes the dotted line position shown in FIG. 2 which is the full line position shown at the righthand side of FIG. 1.

In operation, it is understood that bottles uncapped, but filled with the product to be packaged therein, are brought in succession to the capping machine and by suitable means (not shown) are placed in the holders while the yokes are in their uppermost position. Rotation of the platform 33 a few degrees moves the cam roll 65 beyond the influence of the cam 68 with the result that the coil spring 62 pulls the yokes downwardly into firm holding contact with the shoulder portions of the bottles. With the bottles so held, the screw caps 13 are secured in place and thereafter the cam 68 again operates through the push rods 55 to move the yokes upwardly out of contact with the bottles thereby permitting the take-out star wheel 42 to slide the bottles from the platform onto the conveyor 32. As stated heretofore, this conveyor carries the bottles to a packing, or casing station, or other desired point.

Modifications may be resorted to within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In apparatus for afiixing screw-threaded closure caps to bottles or the like containers each having an exteriorly screw-threaded neck and an upwardly tapered shoulder portion of substantial length connecting the neck to a body, a vertical central column, an annular horizontal bottle supporting platform encircling the column and rotatable about the axis of the latter, means for rotating the platform, an annular series of bottle holders on said platform, each holder comprising means providing a radially outwardly opening recess shaped to accommodate a portion of the bottle body, a yoke above and in register with said recess capable of straddling the shoulder portion of the bottle when positioned upright in the recess, said yoke being movable vertically relative to the bottle supporting platform between two positions in one of which it holdingly engages the shoulder portion of the bottle and applies axial downward pressure to the latter and in the other position releases the bottle for lateral movement out of said recess and means for moving the yoke vertically, the means for moving the yoke vertically comprising a spring device for normally yieldingly holding the yoke in its lowermost position for engagement with the bottle shoulder and a cam for moving the yoke upwardly in opposition to the influence of said spring device.

2 In apparatus for aflixing screw-threaded closure caps to bottles or the like containers each having an exteriorly screw-threaded neck and an upwardly tapered shoulder portion of substantial length connecting the neck to a body, a vertical central column, an annular horizontal bottle supporting platform encircling the column and rotatable about the axis of the latter, means for rotating the platform, an annular series of bottle holders on said platform, each holder comprising means providing a radially outwardly opening recess shaped to accommodate a portion of the bottle body, a yoke above and in register with said recess capable of straddling the shoulder portion of the bottle when positioned upright in the recess, said yoke being movable vertically relative to the bottle supporting platform between two positions in one of which it holdingly engages the shoulder portion of the bottle and applies axial downward pressure to the latter and in the other position releases the bottle for lateral movement out of said recess and means for moving the yoke vertically, the means for moving said yoke vertically comprising a spring device yieldingly urging the yoke to its lowermost position into holding engagement with the bottle shoulder and a cam common to all of the holders operable'to move the yokes upwardly one at a time in opposition to the influence of the spring device.

3. In apparatus for afl'ixing screw-threaded closure caps to bottles or the like containers each having an exteriorly screw-threaded neck and an upwardly tapered shoulder portion of substantial length connecting the neck to a body, a vertical central column, an annular horizontal bottle supporting a platform encircling the column and rotatable about the axis of the latter, means for rotating the platform, an annular series of bottle holders on said platform, each holder comprising means providing a radially outwardly opening recess shaped to accommodate a portion of the bottle body, a yoke above and in register with said recess capable of straddling the shoulder portion of the bottle when positioned upright in the recess, said yoke being movable vertically relative to the bottle supporting platform between two positions in one of which it holdingly engages the shoulder portion of the bottle and applies axial downward pressure'to the latter and in the other position releases the bottle for lateral movement out of said recess and means for moving the yoke vertically, the means for moving said yoke vertically comprising a vertical push rod connected at its upper end to the yoke, a cam roll at the lower end of the push rod, a tubular guide for the rod mounted vertically in the platform and extending both above and below the latter, means holdmeans carried at least in part by the guide and operating to yieldingly urge the rod, cam roll and yoke downwardly relative to the tubular guide and a cam common to all of the holders operable to move the push rod and elements connected thereto upwardly in opposition to the spring means.

4. In apparatus for afixing screw-threaded closure caps to bottles or the like containers each having an exteriorly screw-threaded neck and an upwardly tapered shoulder portion of substantial length connecting the neck to a body, a vertical central column, an annular horizontal bottle supporting platform encircling the column and rotatable about the axis of the latter, means for rotating the platform, an annular series of bottle holders on said platform, each holder comprising means providing a radi ally outwardly opening recess shaped to accommodate a vertical push rod, a tubular guide for the rod mounted in the platform, a cam roll and carrier therefore secured to the lower end of the push rod, a sleeve directly connected to the yoke and telescoped over the upper end of both the push rod and tubular guide, means securing the sleeve and push rod together so that they are movable vertically as a unit in the guide, means for holding the sleeve and guide against relative rotation while permitting relative axial movement, a coil expansion spring encircling a lower portion of the guide and the cam roll carrier functioning to yieldingly urge the latter and elements secured thereto downwardly and a cam common to all of the holders operating through the cam roll and push rod to elevate the yoke out of holding engagement with the bottle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 443,098 Lacasse et al Dec. 23, 1890 931,649 Redington Aug. 17, 1909 1,160,369 Bradley Nov. 16, 1915 1,620,447 Donovan Mar. 8, 1927 1,710,769 Flint Apr. 30, 1929 1,870,996 Hoern Aug. 9, 1932 2,011,142 Brinton Aug. 13, 1935 2,359,932 Newey Oct. 10, 1944 

